SUMMER 2024
Delivering hope every day. Your report from the Salvos and the people you help.
Inside: how you... ...delivered hope over Christmas. ...brought Christmas cheer to struggling families. ...helped older Australians in need. ...walked with people who were struggling alone.
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MESSAGE FROM RODNEY WALTERS
A very warm welcome to your first Hope in Action report of 2024. This Christmas, our caring and compassionate community united to serve so many people who were struggling alone. Opposite you can read about the amazing impact your kindness had on a family who fell into hardship after relocating to Darwin, following a traumatic and devastating tragedy. You can also meet Lisa and Chad, husband and wife Salvation Army officers who have been turning your generosity into help for struggling families over the Christmas period. They, along with our army of officers and volunteers across Australia, offered warm, welcoming, non-judgemental support to all in need. Thanks to continued support like yours, thousands of Christmas hampers were distributed, bringing a little joy to families over the festive period. Your Crisis Partner support enables us to bring so much hope into the lives of families experiencing hardship and crisis right across Australia. And we simply couldn’t help as many people as we do without your kind heart and loyal support. On behalf of everyone at The Salvation Army, thank you for your continuing belief in our mission, we are fortunate indeed to have you walking with us in our daily work.
Colonel Rodney Walters The Salvation Army
Thank you for spreading hope at Christmas Across 2023 we saw a steep rise in the number of Australian families struggling with real hardship, spiralling debt and even homelessness – many for the first time in their lives. Once again, you and the wonderful Salvos community you’re part of, came together to spread hope across Australia over Christmas. You helped us provide practical support in the form of hampers, food vouchers, Christmas presents and financial assistance to help families pay bills. But you also brought a vital message of hope too – letting families know they were not alone in their struggles. Families like Jayne’s Their hardship first began after she and her husband Tom suffered the trauma and tragedy of a losing a baby.
YOUR CHRISTMAS IMPACT
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The impact of your Christmas support
More than 13,500
food hampers distributed
Over 250,000 gifts provided for
individuals and families accessing our service
More than $1.7 million
provided in financial assistance
As Jayne says, “It’s really hard for people to understand if they haven’t been through extreme grief, how it can affect you and how it can limit what you’re capable of in the day-to-day.”
“When I walked in the door of the local Salvos centre it felt welcoming and non-judgemental. It’s not just about the food, I’ve been able to open up and share my issues with people who genuinely care.”
Jayne and Tom moved from Perth to Darwin to be supported by family there. However, they had to use all their savings to relocate, and were also struggling to function normally as a result of the grief and trauma they were experiencing.
Thanks to support like yours, our army of volunteers distributed more than 13,500 hampers to families like Jayne’s over Christmas. That’s the incredible impact your support has on people’s lives – not just at Christmas, but throughout the year.
Deepening Hardship Tom managed to find a job in Darwin, but it was a big drop in income and suddenly they were struggling to make ends meet. A few weeks before Christmas, Jayne realised she wouldn’t be able to afford food for the holidays.
Thanks to your kindness and generosity, Jayne and her family are now in a much better place.
“We had got to a point where we didn’t know where the kids’ next meal was coming from,” recalls Jayne. “That was really scary, and not something we’d experienced before.” A welcoming, non-judgemental community After seeing a social media post about Salvation Army hampers a few days before Christmas, Jayne reached out for help.
To protect Jayne and Tom's privacy, their names and some details of their story have been changed.
“We’re now at the point where we have some savings again. The Salvos have helped us get back on our feet and we couldn’t be more thankful.” Thank you for sharing your love and kindness with struggling Australians this past Christmas, and always.
“The Salvos helped us get back on our feet and we couldn’t be more thankful.” - Jayne
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SALVOS COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Spreading Christmas cheer…
thanks to you
We spoke with husband and wife Salvation Army Corps Officers, Lisa and Chad, about their lives as part of the Salvos community… firstly in Canada, and now in Australia. How long have you been involved in The Salvation Army? “All our lives. Growing up in Canada we were always involved with The Salvation Army church. It’s how we met. A couple of years into our marriage we decided that we both felt called to officership. And here we are seven years later.” What inspired you to become officers? “I think the passion really came from seeing what good the Army does, not just in the community, but in people's lives on that deeper level, on that spiritual level. We all are looking for somewhere to belong. The Salvation Army is somewhere that everyone belongs and feels comfortable, and we want to be part of that.” How long have you been in Australia? "We've always had a heart for international service and The Salvation Army contacted us two years ago about an opportunity in Australia. We had no idea what to expect or what they were expecting of us. But as soon as we arrived, we felt right at home. A lot of the problems are similar to those in Canada and a lot of people are in the same financial hardships.”
Can you tell us more about the Christmas Cheer Hamper Program? “It’s a lot of fun. This was our second year and it was really successful again. People could sign up and fill out a Christmas wish list for each child in their household. Together with a few volunteers, we collected toys and gifts, then we put personalised Christmas Cheer packages together for each and every child. Obviously we can’t get everything on a child’s wish list, but we do our best and the families are truly grateful.” What would you like to say to people who volunteer for, or support the Salvos? "Just a massive thank you. We want to be a transforming influence in our community, and the only way we can do that is with the help of others. If it weren't for your support, we wouldn't have the resources to offer help and meet the needs in our community.”
More than 700
Salvos Officers like Lisa and Chad are serving in the community.
Lisa and Chad’s family visiting Sydney.
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“We all are looking for somewhere to belong. The Salvation Army is somewhere that everyone belongs and feels comfortable.” - Lisa CHRISTMAS UPDATE
Thanks to you, Josie and Sienna didn’t struggle alone A big thank you to all of the community support we received after sharing the story of Josie and her daughter Sienna, whose lives were torn apart by domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, we’ve been able to find mother and daughter an affordable long-term home, giving Sienna a stable base where she can study and keep her hopes and dreams of becoming a vet alive. As Sienna told us, “I’m so, so happy we have a home now. I have my own bedroom, and Mum and I can cook all kinds of things now we have a kitchen with an oven. I’m looking forward to school and getting a part time job now that we have a permanent place to live.”
“I'm so grateful for Salvos support. And I'm so happy we have a home.” - Sienna
Meanwhile, Josie is hoping to start a barista course so that she can get back into the workplace again, after recovering from the trauma of domestic violence and homelessness. Thank you for making stories of hope like this possible.
Thanks to your support, last year we provided
More than 1.2 million
nights of accommodation across all social programs.
10,000+ women and children experiencing family violence with support.
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CAROLS FOR GOOD
Voices of hope and joy! The Salvation Army Choir were in full voice to launch our Christmas Appeal from Queensbridge Square in Melbourne CBD in the lead up to Christmas.
Channel 9 Today Show weather presenter, Tim Davies, joins The Salvation Army Choir to launch our Christmas Appeal.
Channel 9’s Today Show were there to cover the carolling live, helping to amplify our message to all Australians to rally and give generously to help people doing it hardest in these tough times.
“My message to people who are feeling overwhelmed is this… reach out, you are not forgotten, you will be embraced.” - Major Brendan Nottle
“It’s not just about singing carols and having fun, it’s about connecting people to something very familiar for them,” said Project 614 Commanding Officer, Major Brendan Nottle. “And to have the Today Show involved was very powerful. You didn’t have to be there to experience it, you could be at home in your kitchen and hear carols sung by The Salvation Army, and that’s a really important anchoring point for so many people during a time of incredible uncertainty.” We want to send a big thank you out to the Today Show, and to every kind soul around Australia who gave to help people who were struggling alone last Christmas. CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR
Cultivating community with Jamie Durie. Our Pacific Lodge Aged Care Centre in Collaroy NSW welcomed TV Host, landscape designer and Salvos ambassador Jamie Durie for a special visit ahead of International Day for Older Persons. Jamie spent the day planting vegetables and herbs whilst sharing gardening tips and stories. The garden makeover lifted the spirits and left a lasting impact on the wonderful residents and staff at the centre. Jamie believes the Salvos deserve the same unconditional support they provide to so many. He is passionate about giving back, nurturing selflessness and is so happy to see the support you give. “To everyone who supports the Salvos, you are my heroes!” - Jamie Thanks to support from ambassadors like Jamie and Crisis Partners like you, we make a real difference in the lives of those we serve. Your generosity enables us to continue planting seeds of joy and connection like this in our community!
WINTER UPDATE
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How you helped Iris.
Last winter we highlighted the devastating impact of hardship on older Australians like Iris. As you may recall, 78-year-old Iris knows the true meaning of doing it tough. She was made homeless last winter while she was still recovering from a heart attack that nearly killed her. “My lease ended and they didn’t even give me a choice, I had to find a new unit,” says Iris. “I had no money and nowhere to go. I was so scared.” Amazing Salvos supporters like you were so moved by her story that together you showed how much you care and raised the funds to help. Thanks to continued support like yours, Iris’ life has been transformed. She’s on top of her bills now, and her Salvos Case Worker Helena was able to find her a safe home too. Thanks to your Crisis Partner support we will be there to help more Australians like Iris.
“The Salvos were very good to me. They saved me!” - Iris
Thanks to you, last year The Salvation Army provided…
Care for 3000+ seniors
in residential Aged Care facilities
Assistance for 250,000+ people across all social programs
To protect Iris's privacy, her name and some details of her story have been changed.
Nearly 820,000
crisis beds to people experiencing homelessness
Thank you. 1800 018 399 | salvationarmy.org.au